Game apparatus.



PATENTED JUNE. 9, 1908.

W. TERRY. GAME APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION IILEDAUG. 12, 1907,

Hu l I IIVI/ENTOR RRY UNITED ATES PATIENT @IFFIQE.

WILLIAM TERRY, OF PEARL CITY, ILLINOIS.

GAME APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM TERRY, residing at Pearl City, in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of the game apparatus especially adapted to furnish a simple, amusing, and instructive toy for children and it comprehends a peculiar and cooperating arrangement of a run-way and a base the latter having a series of arbitrarily arranged pins that deflect the movements of a marble or like article that discharges from the run-way and passes to numbered spaces or pockets.

In its more complete nature, my'invention embodies an inclined base upon which the pins and numbered pockets are arranged, and a vertically disposed run-way comprising one or more downwardly inclined troughs for receiving and discharging the marbles and hingedly mounted on the upper or rear end of the base to fold down onto the said base whereby the apparatus may be compactly assembled for shipping or storing, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved game, set up for use. Fig. 2, is a similar view which shows the run way folded down onto the base. Fig. 3, is a detailed view that shows one of the hinged connections of the run-way with the base.

1 designates a base portion which is a flat board, preferably square, to the sides and ends of which are nailed or otherwise fas tened vertical cleats 2 that form guard strips that prevent the marbles rolling off the said base board.

At the forward end of the board, on the upper face thereof, is a series of pins or nails 3 arranged in rows and staggered in such manner that a marble rolling down against them is rapidly deflected before it passes down to the lower end of the base, at which point is located another series of pins 30, that are regularly spaced to form pockets 31-31 and which are distinguished by numbers, printed or otherwise delineated on the base in a transverse row between the two rows of pins 3 and as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The base board is inclined, its rear end be- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 12, 1907.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Serial No. 388,238.

ing elevated and secured to two short posts 55 that extend up through the base 1 at the rear end thereof to a point slightly above the rear guard cleat.

Upon each post 5 is mounted a vertical end post and the said end posts 50-50 are connected to the short posts 55 by the hinged members 66 that are secured on the front side of the posts in such manner that the end posts 50 and the parts connected thereto can be swung down onto the base as clearly shown in Fig. 2 when it is desired to store or ship the apparatus.

The top of the posts 50-50 are connected by a cross piece 7, and from beneath the said cross piece 7 to near the hinged ends of the said posts, a series of oppositely (but all downwardly) inclined run ways 8-8 are secured at their ends to the said posts, and each of the said run ways has a groove 80 for guiding a marble and at its lower end an outlet 81 through which the marble drops from one run way to the other, the cross member 7 at the high end of the upper run-way 8 also has an aperture 7 0 into which the marbles are fed when playing the game, it being understood that the lowermost run-way discharges onto the base 1.

To hold the posts 50-50 and the run-way connected thereto to the vertical position, hooks 99 are provided that are pivotally connected to the rear lower ends of the posts 50, see Fig. 3, for engaging the headed studs 10 as shown, and to brace the run-way members 80, cleats 11-11 may be nailed thereto as shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawing, the complete structure and the manner in which my invention is used will be readily understood. In playing the game, any number may take part and each child or player has at least 2 marbles whereby at each operation an addition of at least two numbers is required to obtain the sum total of the plays.

The marbles in passing down the several run-ways are sufficiently checked in their momentum to travel slowly down onto the base when they rapidly roll down against the pins, their irregularity of movement affording amusement and their lodgment in the number pockets effects instruction since it causes small children to learn how to count, as the game requires each player to add up the total of all the balls played by him.

Having thus described my invention, what fixedly holding the said two other posts in I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patvertical position on the short posts and a ent is, 1 series of transversely disposed and oppo- 15 A combination in the game apparatus of l sitely and downwardly inclined run-ways the character described, with an inclined base secured between the hinged posts, the said having vertically projected edges, a series of run-ways each having a discharge opening at staggeredlly arranged pins, and a1 series1 of nu1nthe lower end for the purpose described. bered oc ets at the lower enc of tie base; 7 r T of two short posts that extend up through V\ ILLIAM IERRS" the rear end of the base and form supports Witnesses: for the said rear end, two other posts hing- ORIE W. DOW, edly connected to the short posts, means for J. L. DILLON. 

